American Express Platinum Card

[GerardoG]

It all depends on what you do and what you want to get from your card. Every profile/lifestyle is different, so while access to VIP rooms @ airports is very important to me (I take 105-200 flights/year) it makes no sense to some of my business partners. Let's just say that when I found my perfect match, I cancelled all cards and carry only that one and a debit card with little funds.

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

It all depends on what you do and what you want to get from your card. Every profile/lifestyle is different, so while access to VIP rooms @ airports is very important to me (I take 105-200 flights/year) it makes no sense to some of my business partners. Let's just say that when I found my perfect match, I cancelled all cards and carry only that one and a debit card with little funds.

Are you moving your MR points back to a FF program for upgrades, or are you doing other stuff with them?

If I flew that much I would get into every lounge program out there. I used to fly NWA from Minneapolis a lot, so I figured every lounge trip saved me $20-30 in bar/food/wifi tabs. Plus I liked their stock red wine.

[Mike B]

Luckily I've never had an AMX credit card. Although I would like to have one that rack up sky miles.
I always tend to use my Visa Debit card for all of my transactions.

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Luckily I've never had an AMX credit card. Although I would like to have one that rack up sky miles.
I always tend to use my Visa Debit card for all of my transactions.

AMEX is my "debit" card. I do not even tough my Visa debit and I only carry it with me in case the establishment does not take American.

[sea-dweller]

Any luck ?

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

AND... a $5,000 initiation fee!

I'm trying to get them to wave the initiation fee

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

Any luck ?

Won't happen.

[Chozn1]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

I just looked at the Delta Reserve amex card, and I don't get it. I wouldn't call it a step above platinum. It's the same thing as platinum, except revolving credit, delta points instead of MR, and just Delta lounges. Platinum gets into delta, usairways, american and continental lounges, and I can transfer MR pts to delta skymiles or most other major FF programs. I would only get it if I lived near a major delta hub and flew delta 15+ times per year.

I always fly out of Atlanta, so it makes sense for me. Also, the points apply directly to Medallion rather than simply FF miles, or so it was explained to me. This means my chances of getting bumped to first class are higher which is a HUGE deal to me. You leap frog a lot of people if there's availability.

I already have a Premier Rewards Gold card for my personal. The Reserve card will be for business and pretty much all I'm going for is airfare points out of it and my spending will be relatively high on the card. The Delta Platinum card will not get you into airport lounges and the points aren't the same (again, this is the way it was explained), so I'm not to keen on it.

[rsg]

The Amex rewards are great. Using points I just got a bunch of $100 Ruth Chris gift certificates that will be given away to preferred clients, a few gift cards for Banana Republic for personal use, and my wife is going to order a Macbook pro, all paid for by Amex Rewards points.
Also, if you purchase any international airline ticket Business Class or above from AMEX you get the companion ticket free.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Won't happen.

+1

No way, no how are they going to waive the fee for the centurion card . I've been a platinum card holder for 10 years and when they increased the annual fee to $450, I threatened to walk away and they were more than happy to let me go. I pay it since the access to virtually any airline club was worth it alone

There are people out there that would kill for a Centurion card. It's what the platinum card was 20+ years ago - by invitation only.

Like many, I carry only my amex platinum and my chase debit card just in case. Nowadays, its pretty hard to find places that don't accept it.

[DAVIDSW]

Originally Posted by rsg

The Amex rewards are great. Using points I just got a bunch of $100 Ruth Chris gift certificates that will be given away to preferred clients, a few gift cards for Banana Republic for personal use, and my wife is going to order a Macbook pro, all paid for by Amex Rewards points.
Also, if you purchase any international airline ticket Business Class or above from AMEX you get the companion ticket free.

+1

Just planned a whole vacation to europe with some rewards points for the family.

[Smoak352]

I have the platinum card and use it to pay for everything, it is the only credit card I have. The card covers items that are lost for the first 90 days! They have replaced fishing rods, sunglasses, iphones, clothes and other items. The card pays for itself. BTW its $450/year. They have many other benefits as well.

[mask1196]

If amex had allowed to order your amex card in your own choice of color, which one would you get? In fact, I think they should make this into the new centurion benefit!!!! I want mine blueeeee

it'd be so much better to live in a world whereby people only have to see my card for its color and not for what its associated with. haha, just a thought.

[Sose]

So, I'm a newbie Amex guy (Green, since... May... ).

If I wanted to upgrade my card, it'd literally be an upgrade? Correct? Meaning, I wouldn't keep two cards but rather get mine replaced for the "upgraded" one?

[mopsey]

A whole host of places don't accept AmEx over here.
I've no idea why but you can walk round London and there's countless shops with signs saying AmEx not accepted.

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by mopsey

A whole host of places don't accept AmEx over here.
I've no idea why but you can walk round London and there's countless shops with signs saying AmEx not accepted.

That's the 4% transaction fee at work. Their logic is, and I can't argue with it, that anyone with an Amex carries a Visa/MC as a backup.

[Idle Swede]

[QUOTE=rr-nyc;2019751]+1

No way, no how are they going to waive the fee for the centurion card . I've been a platinum card holder for 10 years and when they increased the annual fee to $450, I threatened to walk away and they were more than happy to let me go.

QUOTE]

Agree with the above.

I got the platinum card in the mid 80's and if memory serves me correct the annual fee was $250.

When they raised the fee to $300 I told them I'd walk and they had no problem letting me go even though I spent an average of $30,000 - 40,000 a month with them.

[CoopJr]

I've held the Amex card since '83. It's the only card that I use. We have the gold rewards card. I looked at Platinum but because we dont travel, the benefits didnt mean much to us. I just wish when I called Customer Service that I was speaking to someone in the USA.

[Ed Rooney]

The trick with Platty is to call and ask to downgrade to Gold. About 50% of the time you will get an offer of 25000 points. The other 50% of the time, you have to be prepared to go Gold. Then you just wait a few months and they will send you a 25000 point, or triple points on everything offer to go Platty. I'm getting ready to do this exercise myself.

Seriously, though, check out the Virgin Black Amex. Nice benefit package for $90.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Are you moving your MR points back to a FF program for upgrades, or are you doing other stuff with them?

If I flew that much I would get into every lounge program out there. I used to fly NWA from Minneapolis a lot, so I figured every lounge trip saved me $20-30 in bar/food/wifi tabs. Plus I liked their stock red wine.

I use MR for a variety of things now, they allow us to pay for cruises, hotels and some meals.

As far as lounges, I agree. Every time I get in I 'use the privilege' so as my SO tells me, I 'drink' my membership fee!!!

[TattooedGQ]

Personally, I just don't get paying an annual fee to be able to use someones card. If someone could explain it to me I'd sincerely appeciate it since I get AMEX offers constantly. Maybe I don't fly enough when it's not on the company's dime (3-5 times a year). But the rewards they give you, unless you're spending heavily exceed the benefit.

I carry my Visa Debit and the cheeziest card around Discover. (you know, you have to be part of that exclusive club called ANYONE in order to get one.) But with 5% Cash back on EVERYTHING and no annual fee I don't care if it's status or not.

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by TattooedGQ

Personally, I just don't get paying an annual fee to be able to use someones card. If someone could explain it to me I'd sincerely appeciate it since I get AMEX offers constantly. Maybe I don't fly enough when it's not on the company's dime (3-5 times a year). But the rewards they give you, unless you're spending heavily exceed the benefit.

I carry my Visa Debit and the cheeziest card around Discover. (you know, you have to be part of that exclusive club called ANYONE in order to get one.) But with 5% Cash back on EVERYTHING and no annual fee I don't care if it's status or not.

All cards will be going to annual fee soon. The trick is to get the right fit for your life. My Citi MC caps at $300/yr cash rewards, so I give them just that much spending. I get enough points out of Amex to get a few domestic airline tickets per year. If you go on cruises, the stateroom credit alone pays for the platinum card.

[TattooedGQ]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

All cards will be going to annual fee soon. The trick is to get the right fit for your life. My Citi MC caps at $300/yr cash rewards, so I give them just that much spending. I get enough points out of Amex to get a few domestic airline tickets per year. If you go on cruises, the stateroom credit alone pays for the platinum card.

I hope you're wrong about everyone charging an annual fee, but I can definitely see it happening. But, I guess the cruise perk is a nice one.

[rr-nyc]

IMO AMEX membership rewards is the best reward program out there. You can get a host of stuff including gift cards or transfer them into miles or hotel points. The flexibility is outstanding.

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by sfirempong

Forget credit and annual fees, isn't cold hard cash still king?

Cash doesnt get me miles when I spend it... Also, money is inherently dirty.

I also have the Delta Reserve card. However, Ive lost a few of the benefits when Delta introduced the Diamond FF level. I guess I havent lost anything but that status matches a lot of the perks associated with that card. Best part are the 30,000 MQMs one can earn each year as a bonus....

30k miles have a monetary value of $300, so the annual fee almost pays for itself...

[GreenTechGuy]

I have heard alot about the visa black card....never really looked into it, not sure if it has fees but i think it has no limit. I never have been to big on credit cards though, the only credit cards i have are the ones that my sales guys use. I just use my debit cards, but i do alot of things that are backwards to most.

what do you actually get for $7500 bucks, other than the panache?

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by GreenTechGuy

I have heard alot about the visa black card....never really looked into it, not sure if it has fees but i think it has no limit. I never have been to big on credit cards though, the only credit cards i have are the ones that my sales guys use. I just use my debit cards, but i do alot of things that are backwards to most.

what do you actually get for $7500 bucks, other than the panache?

Visa is marketing that heavily as an elite sort of thing. It's nothing special.

All cards have limits. Some you just don't know about.

[Brit78]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

I always fly out of Atlanta, so it makes sense for me. Also, the points apply directly to Medallion rather than simply FF miles, or so it was explained to me. This means my chances of getting bumped to first class are higher which is a HUGE deal to me. You leap frog a lot of people if there's availability.

I already have a Premier Rewards Gold card for my personal. The Reserve card will be for business and pretty much all I'm going for is airfare points out of it and my spending will be relatively high on the card. The Delta Platinum card will not get you into airport lounges and the points aren't the same (again, this is the way it was explained), so I'm not to keen on it.

I also have the Delta Reserve Amex. The benefits are huge if you are stuck near a Delta hub, CVG for me. Plus the mileage and medallion qualification kickers are great. I've already put over $80k on the card this year and have gotten god knows how many miles. They do come in handy when personal trips come up Also, their fraud/dispute department is tops in my book. I've had to dispute two large purchases and the people at Amex were excellent to deal with, resolving issues for me quickly.

[Sose]

Originally Posted by Sose

So, I'm a newbie Amex guy (Green, since... May... ).

If I wanted to upgrade my card, it'd literally be an upgrade? Correct? Meaning, I wouldn't keep two cards but rather get mine replaced for the "upgraded" one?

...anyone?

[Renoir]

Originally Posted by Sose

...anyone?

Yes, I believe if you "upgrade" the new card will replace your previous one.

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by Renoir

Yes, I believe if you "upgrade" the new card will replace your previous one.

Correct.
Even the account number stays the same, with the only visible change being the 4 digit security code above your account number. And the colour of the card of course.